Russia calls for calm following Iran-Israel clashes in Syria

Russia has called on Iran and Israel to show restraint after brief clashes between the two sides in Syria early Thursday morning.

Moscow's deputy foreign minister called for "restraint on all sides" on Thursday, saying Russia was "concerned" at the escalation.

"We have established contacts with all parties and we call for restraint from all parties," Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.

Suspected Iranian missiles were fired at an Israeli base in the occupied Golan Heights early Thursday, although none are believed to have hit their targets.

Israel responded by launching air raids on Iranian targets across the Syria. 

The strikes follow an announcement by President Donald Trump that the US will withdraw from a nuclear agreement with Iran, hiking tensions between the two countries.

US allies in the region - Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain - welcomed the move. 

Hours after the announcement was made, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels fired missiles from Yemen at Saudi cities.

Iran and Israel have engaged in a number of clashes in Syria, where Tehran's forces are aiding Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Israel has stepped up its attacks on Iranian targets in the war-torn country, with Tel Aviv fearing Tehran's military build-up in Syria could threaten it.

Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said he hopes fighting with Iran is over, for now.

"I hope we finished this chapter and everyone got the message," Lieberman said.

Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been in Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia is also aiding the Syrian regime and a nominal ally of Iran, but retains close ties with Netanyahu's government.



Agencies contributed to these stories.